title: Upgrading light hydrocarbons via tandem catalysis: a dual homogeneous Ta/Ir system for alkane/alkene coupling.
abstract: Light alkanes and alkenes are abundant but are underutilized as energy carriers because of their high volatility and low energy density. A tandem catalytic approach for the coupling of alkanes and alkenes has been developed in order to upgrade these light hydrocarbons into heavier fuel molecules. This process involves alkane dehydrogenation by a pincer-ligated iridium complex and alkene dimerization by a Cp*TaCl2(alkene) catalyst. These two homogeneous catalysts operate with up to 60/30 cooperative turnovers (Ir/Ta) in the dimerization of 1-hexene/n-heptane, giving C13/C14 products in 40% yield. This dual system can also effect the catalytic dimerization of n-heptane (neohexene as the H2 acceptor) with cooperative turnover numbers of 22/3 (Ir/Ta).
authors.affiliation: Arnold and Mabel Beckman Laboratories of Chemical Synthesis, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Leitch
authors.forename: Yan Choi
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Jay A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Labinger
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bercaw
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006865:Hydrogenation; D007495:Iridium / Q000737:chemistry*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D013635:Tantalum / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D007495:Iridium; D013635:Tantalum